This is an old variety that was listed in receipts when
transporting turkeys to markets in "turkey trots" during the late 1700s and
early 1800s in Philadelphia. They are sex linked and thus were important at the
beginning of this century for producing poults that could be sexed at hatching.
However, this did not become a serious market requirement and they never became
very popular. A variant of the Bronze coloring, this variety shows a similarity
in pattern but the black is replaced by reddish brown and bronze by light tan.
Weights are the same for Historical Bronze [35 pound toms; 19 pound hens].
Only 17 hens (more recent counts have dropped this to 12 hens) and 10 toms, which
is less than 1% of the total Historical turkeys found. The largest flock had six
hens and 4 toms, [and] that has dropped since. More breeders are
needed!